ZIF socket connector having improved contact arrangement

Abstract

A contact for a ZIF socket for electrically connecting with a pin of a chipset comprises a base portion, a connecting portion extending from the base portion, and a body portion extending from one side of the connecting portion. The body portion includes a receiving portion adapted for receiving the pin of the chipset to be in a first position, and a mating portion extending from the receiving portion for sidewardly gripping the pin of the chipset when the pin is moved from the first position to a second position. The base portion has a pair of fixing protrusions on opposite edges thereof for interferentially engaging with a housing. An interferential direction between the fixing protrusions and the housing is substantially perpendicular to a movement direction of the pin from the first portion to the second portion.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A ZIF socket for electrically connecting a plurality of pins of a chipset to a printed circuit board, comprising: 
       a housing defining an array of elongated cavities; and  
       a plurality of contacts being received in the cavities, respectively, each contact comprising;  
       a body portion including a receiving portion adapted for receiving a pin of the plurality of pins of the chipset which is positioned in a first position, and a mating portion extending from the receiving portion for sidewardly gripping the pin of the chipset which is positioned in a second position,  
       a base portion having fixing protrusions on opposite edges thereof for securing to the housing, the fixing protrusions having interferential retention with the housing at two points, a line connecting the two points defining an interferential direction said interferential direction being substantially perpendicular to a moving direction of the pin from the first portion to the second portion, and  
       a connecting portion connected between the base portion and the body portion.  
     
     
       2. The ZIF socket as described in claim  1 , wherein the base portion is substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of the pin from the first portion to the second portion. 
     
     
       3. The ZIF socket as described in claim  1 , wherein the receiving portion of the body portion is slightly bent.